Rachel Jupp will be Panorama’s second female editor in 63 years, moving from her role as deputy editor on Newsnight.
Photograph: PR Company Handout

Panorama is to get its first female editor in 20 years with the appointment of deputy Newsnight editor Rachel Jupp.

Jupp will take charge of the world’s longest running current affairs TV programme immediately following what the BBC said was “open competition” for the role.

She is only the second woman to edit the show in its 63-year history. The first was Glenwyn Benson, who ran the programme for three years after being appointed in 1992.

Newsnight editor Ian Katz poached Jupp from Channel 4 News, where she was home news editor, when he took over the programme in 2013.

BBC news and current affairs director James Harding said: “Since joining the BBC from Channel 4 three years ago, Rachel has proved to be an outstanding deputy editor of Newsnight, bringing investigations, insight and great film-making to the programme.

“She is a determined, thoughtful and courageous editor who I know will ensure that Panorama remains the pre-eminent place on British television for investigations and revelatory story-telling.”

Jupp said she was “incredibly excited” to be joining the programme.

“I’ve watched and loved Panorama all my adult life, with its impressive record of breaking big stories. I’m looking forward to working with the hugely talented team to continue and to build on that record.”

BBC head of current affairs Joanna Carr said: “Panorama is the biggest beast in the current affairs jungle, and I’m delighted that we have appointed a journalist of Rachel’s calibre to this important position.”

Jupp replaces Ceri Thomas, who announced he was leaving to take on a communications and public affairs role at Oxford University in June.

A former editor of Radio 4’s Today programme, Thomas had caused controversy when he said that most women presenters did not have the experience to cope with Today’s “incredibly difficult” environment.

This article was amended on 8 September to remove a reference to it being the most watched current affairs programme in the UK